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Tunisia election: Beji Caid Essebsi sworn in as president | |
(about 3 hours later) | |
Tunisian President-elect Beji Caid Essebsi has taken his oath of office after winning the country's first free presidential poll. | |
The 88-year-old secured victory last week over incumbent Moncef Marzouki. | |
His triumph means Tunisia - where the Arab Spring began - remains the only Arab country to move from authoritarian rule to democracy in that period. | His triumph means Tunisia - where the Arab Spring began - remains the only Arab country to move from authoritarian rule to democracy in that period. |
On Monday, electoral authorities confirmed that Mr Essebsi had won a run-off vote against Mr Marzouki. | On Monday, electoral authorities confirmed that Mr Essebsi had won a run-off vote against Mr Marzouki. |
The new president took his oath of office at a ceremony in the newly elected parliament - where his party Nidaa Tounes also holds the largest number of seats. | |
Economic changes | Economic changes |
The swearing in comes four years after protests that eventually toppled President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali in January 2011. | |
Journalist Naveena Kottoor in Tunis says that while this is the latest democratic milestone for Tunisia, many in the country are arguing that political transition will only succeed if newly-elected politicians usher in social and economic changes. | |
Mr Essebsi has urged all Tunisians to "work together" for stability but critics say his win marks the return of a discredited establishment, pointing out that he served under President Ben Ali. | |
This month's vote was the first time Tunisians have been able to vote freely for their president since independence from France in 1956. | This month's vote was the first time Tunisians have been able to vote freely for their president since independence from France in 1956. |
Beji Caid Essebsi | Beji Caid Essebsi |
The new president will have restricted powers under a constitution passed earlier this year. | The new president will have restricted powers under a constitution passed earlier this year. |
He will be commander-in-chief of the armed forces but can appoint or sack senior officers only in consultation with the prime minister. | He will be commander-in-chief of the armed forces but can appoint or sack senior officers only in consultation with the prime minister. |